Hardware Necessities

In this course, we start by covering light, perhaps the most critical factor in cannabis cultivation. The quality of the light is paramount — it needs to be within a specific spectral range to be utilized by the plant, and of sufficient intensity and duration to promote vigorous growth. This course explores the many aspects of optimizing light and reviews the types of lighting most commonly used by commercial and home growers alike. We also demonstrate how to measure the quality and quantity of the light reaching your plants and learn how to optimize the photosynthetic potential for various plant cultivars in your garden.

From there, we move on to cover ventilation and CO2. We examine some of the most common approaches to providing adequate ventilation and climate control at your cultivation site, which is essential to the success of your operation. First, we look at the importance of air circulation and identify the various equipment that can be used to move the air throughout your growing environment. Then, we discuss temperature and humidity control measures, including air-conditioning, evaporative cooling, humidification, dehumidification, and air exchange. Next, we examine some of the most common odor mitigation strategies, including filtration and neutralization, as well as the air filtration and sanitation systems used to prevent pest and pathogen infestation. We wrap up with an examination of CO2-replenishment and explore the differences between open-loop vs. closed-loop ventilation systems.

Finally, we explore electrical systems. We introduce some basic electrical concepts, like amperage, voltage, wattage, and resistance, and learn how to calculate the safe load capacity of your electrical system. We also examine the equipment that delivers the electrical service to your site and the safety features of that system. We then identify some of the most prevalent electrical hazards in a cultivation operation and emphasize the importance of hiring a professional electrician to install new equipment. The course concludes with a brief discussion of on-site generation, which can help you offset your energy consumption.